Haibike Creaking. Driving me insane (Video)

[BOTG]

Haibike Creaking, I have ticked off a few elements to try and source the issue. Yesterday, I removed and clean motor cover and greased all screw and bolts. Removed both crank arms and cleaned them up and seals cleaned.

Removed both pedals and re greased them,

Regreased bearing in the headset

Removed and cleaned the self locking nuts in crank arms

checked both front and back suspension

Checked regreased all motor bolts and torqued

Removed all seating fixing and cleaned and tigetned up

STILL have haibike creaking, Iv worked out its coming from the left had side of the motor only when pressure is applied. If i just pedal with one leg on right bike is silent. If left.. creaky creaky.

Only thing i have not looked at is the side cover near motor. If anyone has any other ideas please let me know and I will look into it before making a video for Haibike (Raleigh) to look at.

Cheers. Andy.

 

[Muzza]

Gee that would be pain to listen to for sure. Probably wrong, but are you sure it's not your seat? Sounds like it creaks on each pedal stroke which in turn rocks your seat from side to side. Have you tried pedaling off the seat?

 

[jerry]

I'd also say either cranks or seat post.
One further option to check, certainly if you have Sram EX-1: fasten the cassette. How to diagnose: if the creaking stops when using in one of the middle cogs (because the applied power then doesn't flex it on the hub) , then it certainly is the cassette.

 

[BOTG]

Putting a video together to try and show people what I have tried, maybe as a community we can work it out together.

 

[TPEHAK]

It is likely the seat or the seat pots. My bet is on the seat. It is easy to check, just pedal the bicycle without sitting or touching the seat.

The plastic parts of the seat rub between each other making this sound.

 

[MrPeaski]

You mention taking out the crank bolts and greasing, did you take the actual crank arm off and give it a grease?
Or the bearing in the pedals.
Try the seat rail clamps, you can slacken them off and move the seat to clean and then a dab of grease there too.

Somewhere else on this forum another untraceable creak came from the rear wheel axle, try there as well.

Good luck

 

[RustyMTB]

Have you tried pedalling stood up? That would at least eliminate the seatpost, saddle rails etc.

 

[jerry]

Putting a video together to try and show people what I have tried, maybe as a community we can work it out together.

This suggests your primary goal to be here is to plug your channel.... it's not the first such instance, too. You now have been given several options for possible causes/solutions. But instead of trying them out, you are working on creating a video. You're making this forum instrumental to your own agenda only.

Try them first, and check if they solved your issue, and be done with it.

 

[R120]

I would suspect saddle too - simple test, does it make the noise when you pedal standing up?

The saddle rail clamps can get crap in them and cause this, or a slightly loose saddle, or even over tightened.

 

[BOTG]

This suggests your primary goal to be here is to plug your channel.... it's not the first such instance, too. You now have been given several options for possible causes/solutions. But instead of trying them out, you are working on creating a video. You're making this forum instrumental to your own agenda only.

Try them first, and check if they solved your issue, and be done with it.

My primary goal is solve it and help others. There are hundreds of mtb videos here on the channel of people just riding, do you say the same to them? Come on Jerry.

I have tried all the things in that list, including pedaling stood up, seat has been regreased and cleaned, I have still to remove seat post and put some carbon gripper in, or remove the motor to check its not rubbing on plastic.

Had a couple of people on FB say they have the same issue after around 300 miles and they can't work it out either. Though they both seem to have done little maintenance.

Crank arms have both been removed and cleaned including both self locking nuts so can rule that out. I'm going to check that side plastic cover today. Stood next to bike and applied pressure to pedals while somebody put their ear all around bike they think it's left hand side near motor area but couldn't pin where..

The adventure continues. Thanks for suggestions.

 

[Muzza]

My primary goal is solve it and help others. There are hundreds of mtb videos here on the channel of people just riding, do you say the same to them? Come on Jerry.

I have tried all the things in that list, including pedaling stood up, seat has been regreased and cleaned, I have still to remove seat post and put some carbon gripper in, or remove the motor to check its not rubbing on plastic.

Had a couple of people on FB say they have the same issue after around 300 miles and they can't work it out either. Though they both seem to have done little maintenance.

Crank arms have both been removed and cleaned including both self locking nuts so can rule that out. I'm going to check that side plastic cover today. Stood next to bike and applied pressure to pedals while somebody put their ear all around bike they think it's left hand side near motor area but couldn't pin where..

The adventure continues. Thanks for suggestions.

All the best with the search & hope you find a result real soon Keep up with the vids, well worth the watch

 

[Rahr85]

This suggests your primary goal to be here is to plug your channel.... it's not the first such instance, too. You now have been given several options for possible causes/solutions. But instead of trying them out, you are working on creating a video. You're making this forum instrumental to your own agenda only.

Try them first, and check if they solved your issue, and be done with it.

I'm sorry but did you get out of bed on the wrong side today? I can't see a problem in a video where you can actively hear the sound that is causing the problems from existing footage. Hope some of the suggestions in the thread help find the cause of it.

My bike has an annoying creaking sound every so often but from what i am looked into it is likely caused by the CSU interface and there's not much that can be done beyond sending it back to fox and have them send me another one that will inevitably have the exact same issue down the line.

 

[BOTG]

I'm sorry but did you get out of bed on the wrong side today? I can't see a problem in a video where you can actively hear the sound that is causing the problems from existing footage. Hope some of the suggestions in the thread help find the cause of it.

My bike has an annoying creaking sound every so often but from what i am looked into it is likely caused by the CSU interface and there's not much that can be done beyond sending it back to fox and have them send me another one that will inevitably have the exact same issue down the line.

Whats a CSu?

 

[BOTG]

You mention taking out the crank bolts and greasing, did you take the actual crank arm off and give it a grease?
Or the bearing in the pedals.
Try the seat rail clamps, you can slacken them off and move the seat to clean and then a dab of grease there too.

Somewhere else on this forum another untraceable creak came from the rear wheel axle, try there as well.

Good luck

Yes mate, took both off they were clogged with grit and mud. The plot thickens..

 

[Rahr85]

crown steerer uppertube assembly. the top park of the fork. seems to be where the upper legs and crown meet there can be a miniscule gap.

 

[Rusty]

I had a really bad creak that I was struggling to isolate. Turns out the rails on my seat did not match the bracket on the seat post. Swapped saddles and quiet once more.

 

[BOTG]

I had a really bad creak that I was struggling to isolate. Turns out the rails on my seat did not match the bracket on the seat post. Swapped saddles and quiet once more.

Ahh. I did swap seats about a month ago. I am sure I tested with riding with seat down and me not sat on it. Ill test it again today. thanks for suggestion. i did strip and clean it all.

 

[BOTG]

Just took cover off, will look at seatpost at some point as well.

 

[MrPeaski]

I think if it was the headset or CSU (as another member mentioned) it would creak with pressure from either pedal, or by holding on the front brake and rocking back and forth.

Can you get someone to stand on the pedal while you listen around the motor? could it be inside the motor?

Creaks are some of the hardest things to track down unfortunately

 

[yorkshire89]

Have you tried swapping the pedals? Edit: just seen you've regreased in OP, was that just the threads onto the cranks or have you taken the axles out? The bearings in them can go - would try another pair first if you have any.

Does it creak if you pull the front brake and rock the bike forward and back?

 

[R120]

Foxs forks have a massively overstated yet also fairly common occurrent of the CSU creaking. I would check the wheel bearings too, EMTB's have a habit of chewing through those.

 

[BOTG]

Have you tried swapping the pedals? Edit: just seen you've regreased in OP, was that just the threads onto the cranks or have you taken the axles out? The bearings in them can go - would try another pair first if you have any.

Does it creak if you pull the front brake and rock the bike forward and back?

I took the pedals off and regressed the axels. @yorkshire89 if I rock back n forth or jump up and down suspension is all quiet.

 

[GrahamPaul]

Somewhere else on this forum another untraceable creak came from the rear wheel axle, try there as well.

That was my Focus Jam². A well greased axle bolt is a must on the Jam.

The next "untraceable" creak was me having changed a broken seat post cable and reinserting the seatpost without greasing it first. (In my defence, it was intended to be a trial fit before getting all greased up and mucky. But it went together so well and worked perfectly, that I decided to leave it. Wrong move ?‍)

 

[BOTG]

OK... Deep breath.

I think I have worked it out (kind of)

The lower motor bolt.. if I take it out completely there is no creaking at all, no matter how much pressure apply to the bike or pedals.
So i regreased it again including the cuff and put it back in to correct 22nm settings...

As the bolt gets half way through as you tighten it the frame clicks once... keep tightening.. (bolt head is still 1 cm from the bike at this point) it clicks again. Bolt is now in and torqued...

Bike creaks again.

If i then unscrew the bolt out same happens.. 2 loud creaks again.

Any ideas how to fix this now I know what it is, but not sure why?

 

[Mikerb]

mmmm...before getting to this your last post I was a bout to suggest motor mounting bolts because I have had all of the other noises...seat, headset etc.....but your noise is different.
I do not know the bolt arrangement on your bike. Is it a bolt going into a captive thread on the other side.....ie the bolt goes right across to the other side of the frame?
I would guess the bolt passes through the left side of the frame and then a lug on the motor casing.....then a gap...then into a lug on the other side of the motor...and then into a captive nut in the drive side of the frame. If you think that sounds like a feasible arrangement it brings to question what else might the bolt pass by between the 2 motor lugs? I assume there are some cables routed through that area....certainly the dropper post cable will be looped around there. Has the motor bolt been disturbed for any reason recently......Im thinking what may happen if washers that should be between the motor lugs and frame have been omitted. The frame on your bike is carbon? I would think there should be something like a polished washer between the ally motor lugs and carbon.............a carbon frame will after all flex!!

I assume ( lots of assumptions here but just throwing in ideas!!) there was a specific time when this noise started? Maybe think about what you did to the bike immediately before it started making the noise, whether that was something on a ride or in the workshop. It might give a clue.

 

[BOTG]

Almost worked it out. (These videos are set to unlisted).

It def the back motorbolt, regards shims and fitting, do i have to take motor out? never done it before, and why do I need to add shims now?


// Just found this might the solution.

 

[Mikerb]

Yes it is the interface between the motor lugs and frame which I think is the most likely cause which is why I mentioned the possibility of washers there being missing. Seems on the last video that the motor lugs have bushing inserts though which effectively provide the sort of interface a washer would.
The only way you are going to know if you have the same set up is by removing the bolt and dropping the motor. Good research!!

 

[Mikerb]

So there is a need to identify the root cause and from that the best remedy. Firstly I doubt any of components are steel. The motor case is ally and I would expect the lug inserts to be ally as well. Given the dry weather recently I would guess ingress of dust as the root cause. There are no moving parts on that assembly so I see no reason to use grease except on the bolt threads and behind the bolt head...both just to ensure torque applied is accurate. For assembling the inserts into the motor case lugs I would use anti seize. Any grease etc beyond those will just attract dust. I would then be looking to use motofoam between that area of the motor and the outer casing to help stop ingress of dust.

 

[BOTG]

I am removing the motor and seeing if I can find the issue. Thanks all for suggestions.

 

[Beekeeper]

I had an annoying creak and it was the motor mounting bolts on my Bosch gen 2.
the paint on the frame gradually gets compressed producing a slight play. Torquing the bolts up instantly solved the issue.